BASED ON THE SHORT STORY BY ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI

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 THE a . jie
LESSER EVI 4

; ot ne ORIGINAL SHORT STORY

— ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI.
a 7 STORY ADAPTATION
Q

oe
pre at le JACEK REMBIS _
rer a “ | ENGLISH ADAPTATION eee
7 _ BORYS PUGACZ-MURASZKIEWICZ

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PATRICIO
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ye A > : : ; ; - ‘e ‘ a '
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Ses HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
No ee SCOVERART
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. | : ; : |

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tskirts ga Guay

“> ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI’S “

THE LESSER EVIL
 BY
a GODS,
GERALT! WHAT
WERE THIS

\t A KIKIMORE,
EALDORMAN.
REWARD POSTED?
WAITIN’ FOR ME CALDEMEYN,
TO COLLECT? FOLK DIED
OUT THERE.
MUST'VE.

WAYS OUT,
FOUR MILES CHILDREN,
7 MAYBE. TOO.
SepWY
\=
. < ae

OVE R THE WRE TCH

C GERALT. FLIES’RE ,
GO ON, SU)mae
NEIGHBORS! \_- SWARMIN’
seo
TO THY 'OMES, THY JOBS! J.
NOWT TO SEE ’ERE, :
ALREADY. AN’
YE AN’ ME,
Uh i
NO GRAND
SPECTACLE!
 I ‘AVEN’T ANY BRASS FOR IT,
I FEAR. NOBODY SUSPECTED
A BEAST AS DANGEROUS AS
THAT LURKED THERE. WE ROTTEN
‘AVEN’T HAD SO MUCH AS . LUCK. WHAT
AN /MP PISS IN OUR y WITH WINTER
MILK CANS LATELY. COMING, REALLY
COULD’'VE USED
THE COIN. 4

YOU'VE A NOOK BE MORE’N

TO HIDE AWAY IN? GLAD TO USE IT.
I'VE ROOM IF BUT, Uh...
YE’D LIKE.
IN MY ATTIC.

...YOUR
LIBUSHKA?
CAN’T SAY
SHE'S EVER
LIKED ME
MUCH.

Ah, IT IN’‘T ANY 4 TALKIN’ ABOUT

TROUBLE. BUT THE RAT? FORK
YE MUSTN'T I TOSSED AT
REPEAT NOWT :
OF WHAT YE DID
LAST TIME...
OR DO YER
BEST TO
TRY.

GERALT,
YE SKEWERED THE
VERMIN AT RANGE,
IN PITCH DARK.
 ANYROAD... KIKIMORE.
THIS KIKI... COULD DUMP IT
THIS BEAST. IN THE MUCK IF
WILL YE BE THERE’S NO
NEEDIN’ THE REWARD...
CARCASS?

GERALT. WE'VE WoO

BUT I'VE SOMEONE WE “~ —— \\
BETTER
A NOTION, OUGHT TO, MASTER \
TALK TO-- A\ )
I WAGER.

PER’APS OUR LOCAL

MAGE WILL REWARD
YE FOR YER
TROUBLE.
 THIS... : LIKELY TO
MASTER IRION-~ Z HEAR NOTHIN’
WHAT'S HE Kyx DECENT BUT INSULTS,
LiKE @ 7 i ENOUGH, ACTUALLY. MAGES
THAT’UN, ‘ELPS AND WITCHERS’VE
FOLK WHEN HE NEVER BEEN
LEAVES THE TOWER. FRIENDLY.
THOUGH THAT'S NEAR
NEVER. A LONER, EALDORMAN
HE |S, BUT MIGHTY, CALDEMEYN W
I MUST SAY. GREETS MASTER }
= =IRION! AS DOES
GERALT OF RIVIA.
YE’LL SEE ea WE'VE SOME
FOR YERSELF, BUSINESS.

[o 7
i

LEAVE, KIND
Sey SOULS. MASTER
Oe [KION TAKES NO §
Sawa V/S/TORS.

Sin

<
— % = L4 s
——<

is iT TRULY SQ) «FORGET THE KIKIMORE.

LI WISH TO SPEAK WITH
—

YOU, GERALT? " |

COME CLOSER. YOU, GERALT, AND YOU
LLL LET YOU ALONE. MY APOLOGIES,
fre BROUGHT A EALDORMAN.
DEAD KIKIMORE.
KILLED IT, A SHORT
WAY OUTTA
 WELCOME,
WITCHER.

| ( srREGOBOR/ \e

PENNY,”
ates),

NOW DO TELL, HOW IS TW wel DESTINY MIGHT ASSUME MANY FORMS. \2 2

ONE NOT TO BELIEVE IN MINE APPEARS AS PURE BEAUTY, YET
DESTINY? UNLESS YOU 7 IS FOUL WITHIN. IT REACHES FOR
KNEW FULL WELL I WAS ME WITH BLOODY CLAWS...
HERE AND CAME | | > .
SEARCHING? 5 HAVEN’T CHANGED a
7 ee = | A BIT. RAMBLING AS a:
EVER WHILE PUTTING 7 WELL
CAN’T JUST SPEAK WORMALLY.”
NORMALLY: f= MY DEAR
T & GERALT, MY |
a a LIFE IS IN

NO IDEA. LAST IL
REMEMBER, YOU
9g Se WERE LIVING
IN KOVIR.
— ov,
 “A SORCERER
WHO INSPIRED
THE IMPRISONMENT
AND MURDER OF
DOZENS OF GIRLS
FROM GREAT
HOUSES.

‘CURSE OF “ROYAL
THE BLACK SUN--
YOU'VE HEARD

“WORD WAS THEY WERE

“COURSE. KNOWN POSSESSED BY DEMONS.
ALSO AS THE MANIA CURSED, TAINTED. ALL BV...
OF MAD ELTIBALD. | AN ORDINARY OLD ECLIPSE."

“ELTIBALD WAS HARDLY MAD. HE’D

DECIPHERED INSCRIPTIONS ON
DAUK MENHIRS, VOZGOR TOMB-
STONES. DELVED DEEP INTO
BUGBEAR LEGENDS AND LORE...

Lo 2

“ALL HE DECODED | “4
DESCRIBED THE |} ! |
ECLIPSE IN RATHER G “THE BLACK SUN
DEFINITE TERMS. © was THE HARBINGER
— OF THE COMING OF
LILITH, WORSHIPED
IN THE EAST TO THIS
DAY AS N/YA. LILITH,
WHO WAS TO BRING
ABOUT THE END OF
THE HUMAN RACE.

Mea
<=
—

“AND STRIDING BEFORE HER

HUMBLY? A PROCESSION OF...
MAIDENS. ALL BEARING
CROWNS OF GOLD. THE
VALLEYS TO RUN THICK WITH
BLOOD AT THEIR HANDS.”
 ALL NONSENSE. I MYSELF
ELTIBALD AND THE We aoe ASSISTED IN
COUNCIL OF MAGES ies f THE AUTOPSY OF |
WERE OUT TO US E HI S ; ONE. INTERNAL
Ml MAD RAMBLINGS TO ORGANS--
A CONSOLIDATE POWER, OTFHEOERLITEIBSALDIS’..s. ae
A JUMBLE, SIX
VENTRICLEG...
Pe eae DEBATABLE. YET
THE FACT
REMAINS-~

--MUTATIONS
WERE PREVALENT SEEN
IN GIRLS BORN Lors \
JUST AFTER THE WORSE THAN
ECLIPSE. THAT. NEAR
ALWAYS THE
RESULT OF 4 ae
DABBLING (\/} ag
WITH \ = K\\
dA MAGIC. AY

YOU'VE SEEN
MANY MUTATED
HUMANS, YOU SAY. HOW
MANY DID YOU SLAUGHTER
WOULDN'T
YOU RATHER
| FOR COIN, IN LINE WITH
KNOW HOW
i) YOUR WITCHERLY CALLING?
MANY I
CURED?

WE’VE ALAS, ALL OUR ATTEMPTS LoS=

SCORN’S
EASY TOWARDS EMPLOYED HAVE RESULTED
A WITCHER. BUT HIGHER MAGIC. IN DEATH.
WHAT’'VE M/GHTY SORCERERS
SORCERERS DONE AND TEMPLE AND YOU
TO MITIGATE PRIESTS BASTARDS
IN THESE ALIKE. DARE
CASES? CONDEMN
WITCHERS?
 GONNA TELL ME YOU NEVER VERY WELL, YOU WIN.
MADE A SINGLE MISTAKE IN I SHALL BE HONEST,
HUNTING THESE SUPPOSED THOUGH IT’S LIKELY
“MUTANTS”? NOT IN MY BEST
INTEREST.

WE COMMITTED
ERRORS. ON
MULTIPLE
OCCASIONS. NO, A BARE-
AND THUS FACED LIE, THIS.
WE CEASED... RATHER, THEY
ELIMINATING GREW APATHETIC,
THEM, OPTING REFUSED
INSTEAD TO NOURISHMENT...
ISOLATE AS
THE BEST
COURSE OF
ACTION.

GIRLS
DIED IN THE
DUNGEONS ALL
THE SAME, FAR
AS I KNOW. AND
SOME OF YOU
HELPED 'EM
ALONG.

[ _...INTERESTINGLY, MANY
| REVEALED AN APTITUDE FOR ers TAL
LET'S oa K
CLAIRVOYANCE SHORTLY ae ABOUT THIS
geal THEIR DEMISE. Se , MONSTER YOU'RE
ET EVIDENCE O 4 GERALT-- NO, CLAIMING’S A
THEIR MUTATION... EVEN LESS
ans ae DONE LISTENING. THREAT TO
NOTHING YOU CAN YOU...
THAN ANY OTHER SAY’LL CONVINCE ME
YOU'VE ‘| YOU WERE RIGHT. OR |
MENTIONED. }\ THAT ELTIBALD WASN’T
, A MURDEROUS
MADMAN.
 “ARIDEA, SECOND WIFE TO PRINCE FREDEFALK
“IN THAT CASE, WELL, OUR OF CREYDEN, WAS A WISE WOMAN, QUITE
TALE BEGINS IN CREYDEN, WELL EDUCATED. SHE HAD INHERITED FROM
A SMALL NORTHERN DUCHY. AN ANCESTOR A MIRROR OF NEHALENI,
AN ARTIFACT THOUGHT TO BE PLAINLY
ORACULAR, A WINDOW INTO THE FUTURE..."

“THE MIRROR FORETOLD ©

NOTHING OF THE SORT.
“WHO'S THE “Tsk, tsk, GERALT, SHE SAW WITHIN IT...
| FAIREST OF YOU JEST. ARIDEA
|THEM ALL?’-- | HAD NO SUCH “,..DEATH. HER OWN, THAT
| THAT WHAT TRIFLES ON HER OF MANY OF HER SUBJECTS.
MIND. RATHER, WHAT DEATH BROUGHT ON BY
CONCERNED HER FREDEFALK’S FIRSTBORN,
MOST WAS HER A DAUGHTER FROM HIS
LAND, ITS STABILITY,
PROSPERITY,
SUCCESS.
= oe

<. “A DAUGHTER
> BORN SHORTLY
| AFTER THE
 mn \ — — | apr —
; A : : fee NY
iG ‘

“I THEN REVEALED OWN |

| / « WHO |
SAW HER !
ry THE COUNCIL, WHICH
DELEGATED ME TO | TESTED THE CHILD.
"IT OBSERVED...
a CEN Aeon, | OFFSPRING AS HEIRS. |
TRAVEL TO CREYDEN AND CONFIRMED WISE WOMAN.” | | SOMEONE SHOULD'VE |
TO INVESTIGATE. THE GIRL TO BEA SNAPPED YOUR NECK
MUTANT INDEED. a | THEN AND THERE.” |

toad

BW
Ai) cz ek
4 = 4
ee, i: vw \N :

“A HUNTSMAN WAS TO...

DO THE DEED. SOME
TIME LATER, WE FOUND
HIM IN THE FOREST,
9 “I WISHED ONLY TROUSERS ROUND HIS
s TO SEE THE CHILD ANKLES, THE PIN OF A
ISOLATED. THE BROOCH RUN THROUGH
DUCHESS DECIDED HiS EAR TO HIS BRAIN.”
ELSEWISE.

‘{“THINK IGOT ANY. |

| SYMPATHY FOR HIM? |
| THIiaNK AGA~
IN.”
a
|
 “FOUR YEARS ON, ARIDEA “NO, INDEED.
MANAGED TO TRACK THE GIRL SHE HAD
DOWN. SHE WAS LIVING IN EARNED A
MAHAKAM WITH SEVEN GNOMES-- MONIKER--
CAROUSING, FORNICATING, ‘SHRIKE.’
AMBUSHING, AND ROBBING >

ANYONE UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO u-— “IT EMERGED

PASS NEAR THEIR LAIR.” ey FROM THE
" <2 ; es
bee PENCHANT
., b 4
‘aay
ey
ae
\SZ _ ~SHE’D SHOWN Ye
| FOR /MPALING "SS
GIRL NO HER CAPTIVES
MORE...” ON STAKES
AND WATCHING
AS LIFE...
EBBED FROM

“ALSO, VERY
FEW MEN
WERE HER
MATCH IN
_ BLADEWORK.
7

“SOME TIME LATER, A STRING OF TRAGEDIES ENSUED--

ARIDEA WAS PO/SONED, PRINCE FREDEFALK PERISHED “A TUMULTUOUS SOUL...
' IN A FREAK ACCIDENT, AND ARIDEA’S ELDEST SON A ROW, SEEMINGLY FROM A
VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE. EVIDENCE SUGGESTED TRIFLE, BROKE OUT BETWEEN
THIS WAS ALL THE OUTCAST’S DOING. THE GIRL AND THE GNOMES.
C
A FIGHT ENSUED, AND
RENFR/ ALONE SURVIVED.”

Sees “RENFE/?”
ie) tea
 ae

~\ “NOT LONG AFTER, SHE TRACKED

ME DOWN. WE CAME EYE TO
EYE, AND I BARELY MANAGED
TO CAST A SPELL IN TIME...

MOUNTAIN CRYSTAL, CAST HER

DOWN THE SHAFT OF A DWARVEN
MINE, COLLAPSED MOUNDS OF
ROCK AND EARTH ATOP HER.”

4
f iy
2 j‘
if
e
y

| “BOTCHED IT. |
EASY SPELL
' AE LIFT, THAT.”| |

“INDEED, lL MISHANDLED /T. “THE ESSENTIAL THING YOU MUST KNOW--

SOME IDIOT PRINCE FOUND SHRIKE NEVER FORGOT ABOUT ME.
HER, OVERPAID A MINOR SHE’S TRACKED ME DOWN ONCE AGAIN...”

_ “I SHALL SPARE YOU THE

-, DETAILS OF WHAT ENSUED,
BLOODY BUSINESS

‘How Do |
| YOU KNOW?" |
 I'VE I BELIEVE IT’S
SEEN HER CLEAR. YOU
IN MY GLASS AND SHE'S an KILL
SPHERE. PREPARING
SHE'S NOT SOMETHING,
ALONE. I DARESAY,
SPECTACULAR.

THAT YOU
FIND YOURSELF
HERE IS NO
COINCIDENCE.
IT’S DESTINY, SELLSWORD,
STREGOBOR. ONLY
KILL MONSTERS FOR
GOLD, NOT HUMANS.

AGREED, BUT SHE IS NO TOLD YOU ALREADY. ©

HUMAN. THE LASS IS A LILITH’S MUTATION,
MONSTER, A MUTANT, AN THE CURSE--

ABERRATION. STORIES’RE ALL

HOGWAGH, AS I
SEE IT.

EALDORMAN’LL
HELP YOU. VILLAGE
MILITIA’YLL PROTECT
THEIR LOCAL
MAGE.

THE
EALDORMAN,
MILITIAZ/
fo HELL
WITH THEMS 3powPROTECTION/
I NEED YOU TO
KILL HER |

NOTHING ~*
AND NO ONE
CAN ENTER THIS \

TOWER WITHOUT
MY PERMISSION.
MUCH LESS DO ME
ANY HARM INSIDE.

BUT YOU
WOULD HAVE ME
SPEND THE REST
OF MY DAYS
YOU PUT
HERE ?/ YOURSELF HERE,
STREGOBOR, GOT
NO ONE ELSE
TO BLAME.
 MANY AMONG
US HAD DOUBTS
ABOUT ELTIBALD. YET WE
DECIDED UPON A COURSE
OF ACTION THAT WAS
THE LESSER OF
TWO EVILS. L TRULY
HOPE YOU TOO
WILL MAKE THIS
CHOICE.

EVIL IS EVIL,
STREGOBOR.

BUT IF
I’M TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN ONE EVIL
MIGHT AND ANOTHER...
SOUND LIKE I’D RATHER NOT
LESSER, ONE, BUT I’M CHOOSE AT
GREATER, NOT A PIOUS : ALL.
MIDDLING. HERMIT. MY LIFE |
THE DEGREE IS HASN’T BEEN
ARBITRARY, THE ONE OF PURE
DEFINITIONS VIRTUE.
BLURRED.

TIME I WAS ON
MY WAY. SEE YOU,
STREGOBOR.

PERHAPS. \
And perhaps
not.
\e u
Some time later..
SIX MEN AND A LAS6, ALL IN BLACK.
—~
L SPIED THEM AT THE EDGE OF
TOWN. WHERE MIGHT THEY BE?
DININ’
ALCOVE.

GOIN’ IN ALONE, GONNA STRIVE

GONNA BRING HER TO BE MY DOCILE
OUT. NO NEED TO BEST...
MAKE THIS
OFFICIAL. PER‘APS
YE’RE RIGHT.
DON’T WANT ANY
TROUBLE, MIND
YOU!
 HERE
TO TALK TO
SHRIKE.

WHO'S IT
YA SEEK?
WHO'S THIS...
SHRIKE?

CUT THE
CRAP. SOME-
ONE YOU BELIEVE
KNOW... I'VE SEEN ‘IM
ROUND.
KNOW THIS
BLOKE, IN POINT
NOHORN? OF FACT,
DO NOT. I

AN ALBINO) \l 44
MUTANT, LOOKS \i}i He
LIKE TOME. |i
A FREAK.

SAY YER PIECE,

MATE, THEN GOT
PISS OFF. NOTHIN’ TO
SAY TO YOU.
WANNA TALK
TO SHRIKE.
RENFRI.

AWRIGHT. S&S
THOUGH THE
QUESTION
REMAINS--
WHY? ; THAT’S
N JUST NOT
YOUR
CONCERN.
 Aww, I KNOW!
HE’S BEEN BY
THE EALDORMAN’S A
HOUSE. WORD witcher?
IS HE’S A What's that,
WITCHER. Civril?

A MAGE FOR COULD STAND TO

HIRE, AN EXPENSIVE BE A TOUCH MORE
FRAUD, A FREAK SYMPATHETIC.
OF NATURE. WHO LOOKIN’ AT YOU,
BEGETS THESE SEEMS YOUR
MUTANTS, MOTHER LIKED
I WONDER? TO FROLIC WITH
FOREST
BEASTS.

aoe BUT
AT LEAST
I KNEW MY
MOTHER.
 Oooy, MATE, GONNA LET A Ah wel. “&
CIVRIL GET AWAY WITH THAT? .! STILL, YA DID
GOTTA CHALLENGE ‘IM TO A INSULT MY
DUEL. MAKE THE AFTER- COMRADE'S
NOON INTERESTIN’. MOTHER.

NOT
HAPPENING.

HEY,
FIFTEEN/
DO WE TAKE
KINDLY TO
STRAGGLERS
INSULTIN’ OUR
MATES’ MOTHERS?

IF YOU DIDN’T CATCH WHAT THE HELL

THAT, FIFTEEN /ERE IS THIS? CAN I
JUST CHALLENGED NOT LEAVE YOU
YE TO STAND TO LOT FOR EVEN A
FISTICUFFS. LOSE MORE THAN
A FEW TEETH IF SECOND #/
YOU’/RE NOT
CAREFUL.
 ELL? THERE’S NEVER ANY
OUT WITH IT! HARM IN TALKING. YOU
SPEAK LOT ENJOY YOURSELVES
TODAY. MARKET DAY'S
UP.f WITCHER. WE
A MAGE. SAID DON’T LIKE
HE WANTED MAGES.
TO TALK TO

AN IMPORTANT Day. NOW YOU SHUT

IT WOULDN'T DO YOUR MOUTH,
TO DISTURB THE Ui Yh CIVRIL.
VILLAGERS WITH
REVELRY AND 6
ANTICS. Ah, RENFRI!
AN IMPORTANT
DAY INDEED/

COME, WHITE-HAIRED
ONE. LET'S YOU AND
I JOIN THE EALDORMAN.
HE WISHES TO SPEAK WITH
ME AS WELL, I IMAGINE.
 THIS WITCHER OF RIVIA’S
REVEALED TO ME YER
REASONS FOR COMIN’ TO
BLAVIKEN. YE’VE A SCORE PERHAPS.
TO SETTLE, A GRUDGE WHAT OF
YE BEAR TOWARDS
OUR SORCERER.

WHY, ONLY THAT A JUDGE SHOULD EVER "TO ALL MY DUKES, VASSALS, AND
SETTLE GRIEVANCES. SO I’D LIKE YOU AND FREE SERFS. WE HEREBY DECLARE
YOUR BAND OF MERRY FOLK GONE BY PRINCESS RENFRI OF CREYDEN TO BE IN
FIRST LIGHT. COME THE MORN, OUR SERVICE. SHOULD ANYONE SEEK TO
NO SIGHT OF YE. DO HER HARM, THEY WILL BRING DOWN
UPON THEIR HEADS OUR WRATH...
READ THIS, SIGNED, AUODEN, KING OF...”
EALDORMAN,
IF YOU/RE
LITERATE.

SEAL LOOKS
GENUINE.

BECAUSE IT /S. YOU

WILL NOT DRIVE ME OUT OF
BLAVIKEN, MY GOOD EALDORMAN.
I'VE BROKEN NO LAWS. YE&7.

I’D LIKE A WORD

WITH YOU,
WITCHER. ~~ pon’T YE BE
LATE FOR SUPPER,
GERALT, LEST
LIBUSHKA TAKE
OFFENSE.

NOT TO
WORRY.
I’LL BE ON
TIME.
 I'VE HEARD TALK OF YOU, WITCHER. THAT CERTAINLY
YOU'RE GERALT OF RIVIA, OUGHT TO...
THE WHITE-HAIRED ONE. SIMPLIFY NOT
IS STREGOBOR THINGS. REALLY. NOT
A FRIEND? ABOUT TO JUST
STAND AND
WATCH.

STREGOBOR DIES WHEREAS

TOMORROW. IT WOULD BE I DO. WE COULD
THE LESSER OF TWO TALK, BUT...
EVILS WERE HE TO LIBUSHKA AWAITS.
DIE ALONE. A MAIDEN YOUNG
AND FAIR, AT THE
iF LEAST? IT WOULD
HE DIES... a sagt TO
EEP HER
BEFORE HE
DIES, OTHERS GOT WAITING.
WILL DIE, TOO. NOTHIN’
DON’T SEE ELSE TO
ANY OTHER
WAY.
 NOW IF YOU’LL
DELICIOUS.
EXCUSE ME, TIME
TO RETIRE. BEEN
THANK YOU.
A LONG DAY.
G'NIGHT, LIBUSHKA,
CALDEMEYN.

AND A
GOOD NIGHT
TO YOU,
GERALT.
 I THOUGHT WE’D END V LT :
UP IN BED TOGETHER... Ke : I FIGURED yOu
BUT, SO SOON...? . MIGHT BE DRy, SO L CAN YOU TR
| = BROUGHT A LITTLE THIS CLUELESS,
SOMETHING. WITCHER?
I WISH TO
SAVE BLAVIKEN,
PREVENT A
SLAUGHTER.

; |

pe\\
vi \""" \

ey

Vem.

WE'VE TWO
OPTIONS, AS I SEE IT.
EITHER GET OFF ME
AND WE TALK, OR STAY AS IT’S LATE.
YOU ARE, BUT THEN L’D YOU SNUCK IN
LIKE TO REMOVE MY THROUGH THE
BOOTS. LS WINDOW. CARE
~< TO TELL ME
WHY?
~
 YOU SHOULD SHOW
SOME APPRECIATION.
I CRAWLED ACROSS
ROOFTOPS LIKE ACAT &
IN HEAT TO TALK

DOESN'T
MATTER. DOESN’T
CHANGE A THING.
PICTURE'S CRYSTAL
CLEAR TO ME
ALREADY.

CAN YOU Ly
IMAGINE? THE
BOOBS IN THE
TOWN MILITIA
STREGOBOR’S FIGHTING MY
HOLED UP IN HIS
| TOWER. ATTACK IT, AND
ALL OF BLAVIKEN’LL
OPPOSE YOU.
WILL REGRET |
DOING SO.

YOU IMAGINE
ME STANDING IDLY
BY AS IT HAPPENS?

THE AND I'VE NO

EALDORMAN’S DOUBT YOU
MY HOST. MIGHT W/SH
BEHOOVES ME TO, BUT ALAS,
TO SUPPORT YOU'D BE
HIM, STAND ALONE. THE
BY HIS REST WOULD
SIDE. SCURRY AWAY
AND HIDE LIKE
RATS. AND
NO WARRIOR
FACES SEVEN
SWORDSMEN
AND EMERGES
THE VICTOR.

ENOUGH OF THIS
INTIMIDATION
GAME, WITCHER.

AS Il
SAID, THE
SLAUGHTER IS
PREVENTABLE.
IT WOULD TAKE
JUST ONE OF
TWO SOULS TO
ACHIEVE IT.

ATTENTION.
I’M ALL
EARS.
 ONE--STREGOBOR HIMSELF.
HE MUST EMERGE FROM HIS
TOWER. I SHALL TAKE HIM
AWAY. BLAVIKEN WILL
BE SAFE.

CERTAIN
OFFERS CANNOT
BE REFUSED. THE
a | TRIDAM ULTIMATUM FOR
J eG ONE, WHICH I SHALL
OLD COOT . ee PRESENT TO THE
MIGHT LOOK AND Pe SORCERER.
SOUND A LITTLE aoe —_ WHAT’D
DERANGED, BUT Ate a Seen) (THAT BE?
HE'S NOT STARK Re rs ” rut-tut
EON NEIL MY LITTLE
ee iE SECRET,
LZ gf. WITCHER.
WON’T KEEP
IT LONG,
I WAGER...

BUT LET’S TALK

ABOUT THIS OTHER
INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN PREVENT
THE SLAUGHTER. THINK I GOT
AN IDEA WHO IT MIGHT BE.

YOU. WHEN IN A DISPLAY ROYAL 2/ BUT THAT WAS

OF ROYAL GENEROSITY, YOU Hm, TRUE, I LONG AGO IN
ABANDON YOUR BLOOD LUST WAS ONCE A CREYDEN
AND QUEST FOR REVENGE. ; PRINCESS, - é
I GUESS RIGHT? GERALT.
 a
= is aecneeen se {UNTIL STREGOBOR AND MY |
| EV pene too ee See 4 | WHORE OF A STEPMOTHER,
| EVE E ele
|| OF, FINE GOWNS, SILK SLIPPERS, | ARIDEA, COMMA NDED A HUNTER
| enipe nee Was THC WGOEe
. | BATISTE BLOOMERS, JEWELS, | | MURDER ME, AND RETURN WITH
eSATIS
e e s
FY MY EVERY WHIM... L MY HEA RT AND LIV ER AS PRO OF. ” |

= = —— ren aa ela a
N ; 4

| “GLAD you GoT |

| ONE OVER ON |,
THE HUNTER.” |\

ae Es ae

| “LIKE ABELL I DID. INDEED,

RAPED ME, ROBBED ME

OF ANYTHING OF VALUE. |= PY IN 7
vr “AND JUST LIKE THAT...

“MY DRESS WAS TORN. \

| BATISTE BLOOMERG.... |
| SNOW WHITE NO MORE. |
 ———

\ “ M Y LI FE C H A N G E D . | "LT STOLE \\ \
| IT WAS MUCK AND MIRE, \ | TOAVOID fi |
| HUNGER AND THIRST, | | STA - ml, |
| KICKS AND STICKS. — fm \ *
ST Se

OULD
WSCUMBAGS L MYA BOWL
SELFOR
OF SOUP AND A STRAW |
\MATTRESS FOR T HE NIGHT. |

are |

| BE Kl J

A : » SAND
_38 __ ANTE fF | STEPMOTHER |
“I ROTTED IN | = | AND YOUR |
-PISS-DRENCHED | <ey | SORCERER
| GAOLS. | ad | HOUNDED
a — — er ey) | ME, SENT
SOUGHT TO
POISON ME... |

| “SO A DISPLAY |
OF ROYAL |
| GENEROSITY? |
| FORGIVENESS? |
 ARIDEA MET SO, YES. ONE OF TWO NOT A
HER DEMISE IN CAN PREVENT BLOODSHED KILLER FOR
HER BED. SHAME, IN BLAVIKEN. BUT THE SECOND HIRE.
REALLY, AS I’D HAD IS NONE OTHER THAN YOU.
SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU MUST MERELY... DON’T
LINED UP. BUT KILL STREGOBOR. YOU SEE THIS
KNOW WHY
ectemane / STREGOSOR
AND THE
DUCHESS
WANTED YOU

VgN\
a

I’M CURSED, OR SO
THEY SAY. TAINTED WHILE I WISH TO
IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB. HEAR YOUR
A...MONSTER. ANSWER, WITCHER.
WHAT DO YOU
SAY?
 DID SS oa
STREGOBOR
BID YOU TO = iVEAH. 8
KILL ME? THE LESSER OF
TWO EVILS,
TOO.
AM
I RIGHT TO
ASSUME YOU
TURNED AIM
DOWN AS
WELL?

LESSER EVIL--
DON’T BELIEVE
THERE’S SUCH
A THING.

Zam i]

YOU DON’T SAY.

WELL, I SUPPOSE

GH YOUSEE,
THERE'S EVIL
Df ANS GREATER EVIL.
ale |an WHILE IN THE
bes SHADOWS BEHIND
BOTH LURKS...
GRAND ,
EVIL.

AND
SOMETIMES,
ALBEIT VERY
RARELY, GRAND EVIL
GRABS YOU BY THE
THROAT AND SAYS, "T'S
EITHER ME OR MY
LESSER BROTHER,
MY FRIEND.
CHOOSE."

WON'T
LET YA KILL
STREGOBOR
IN BLAVIKEN.
NOT GONNA
HAPPEN.
NO
BLOODSHED.
NOT WHILE I’M
AROUND.
 witcher. STANDING
IN A SQUARE
AMIDST POOLS
OF BLOOD...

“,.- WHOLLY
ALONE, BECAUSE
YOU COULDN’T
| MAKE A CHOICE.

YET YOU D/D. AND YOU

WILL NEVER KNOW,
NEVER BE CERTAIN. DO fF

He2
aE
ae

rh
¥

|q
 YOU WIN, IT’S SUCH
WITCHER. I SHALL A STEEP UNSEEMLY
LEAVE BLAVIKEN ROOF, GERALT. WORDS FOR
TOMORROW, NEVER MIND IF I STAY A PRINCESS,
TO SET FOOT IN THIS TILL DAWN? RENFRI.
ROTTEN TOWN
AGAIN.

AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW

OF PRINCESSES? WHY,
THE E N T I R E P O / N T O F
BEING ONE |S TO
DO WHATEVER
YOU PLEASE.

MUST TI
f TRULY SPEAK )
\ MO R E P L A I N L Y , | )
GERALT?

{ BATISTE?

ae
DAMN RIGHT
ITIS. YMA
PRINCESS,
AM I NOT?
 , The next day.

A
| PROPERLY
ROTTEN BUNCH,
THAT. FOLK
RECOGNIZED
SOME.

CIVRIL, THE HALF AT TRIDAM. THE LOCAL BARON

ELF? A BRIGAND, HAD CAPTURED SOME BANDITS,
PROFESSIONAL ‘ELD THEM IN HIS DUNGEON.
KILLER. THEY SAY THEIR COMRADES, LED BY CIVRIL,
HE WERE AT THE SEIZED A FERRY FULL OF
TRIDAM MASSACRE. PILGRIMS ON THE
AND THE SCAR RIVER THERE.
FACED ONE...!

THE
MASSACRE
WHERE?

, AFORE
THEY SENT / THE BARON
THEIR DEMANDS SOFTENED AND LET
TO THE BARON-- THE BRIGANDS OUT,
TO FREE THE CIVRIL AN’ HIS CREW
PRISONERS. BARON HAD TOSSED A DOZEN
REFUSED, naturally, BODIES OVERBOARD.
SO THEY BEGAN WHEN SORELY JUDGED
KILLIN’ THE FOR GIVIN’ IN, THE BARON
PILGRIMS, ONE CLAIMED HE’D CHOSEN
BY ONE. THE LESSER EVIL, WHAT
WITH A QUARTER
THOUSAND FOLK
ON THE FERRY.
 GOT TRICKED, CALDEMEYN.
RENFRI AND HER MEN WON’T
LEAVE. GONNA FORCE STREGOBOR
TO EMERGE FROM THE TOWER.
JUST AS THE BARON OF
TRIDAM WAS FORCED.

TRIDAM
ULTIMATUM.
Renfri...

WHAT’S
THAT YOU
SAID?

NEED TO STOP ’EM BEFORE

THE SQUARE GETS CROWDED.
THEY'LL SUMMON THE TOWN WATCH.
START KILLIN’
FOLK OFF AT THE
MARKET. IT’S A
WALLED-IN
SQUARE.
A TRAPS

GERALT, BE
REASONABLE!
BY THE THEY ‘AVEN’T DONE WW
NOWT! WE CAN’T ==
GOSIT GERALT/
DS,YERSELF NOTHIN’ BUT
DOWN/ WHERE’RE TROUBLE,
YE GOIN’? THAT ONE!

TRIDAM, THE
‘ALF ELF, IT’S ALL
GOSS/P FOR ALL
WE KNOW! WHAT IF
> YE’RE WRONG?
AUODEN’LL ‘AVE ME
GOTTA
FL ? CHOOSE THE
‘E WILL! LESSER
EVIL!
 NOT
ENOUGH HERE,
CIVRIL.

WITCHER/

SHE SAID you’D \)

KNOW ITS Fp
EITHER ME OR THE S\ MEANING.
OTHE: R, LESSER <I
AT THE
TOWER. WITH
AN OFFER
FOR THE =
SORCERER. (=

SHE KNEW ©
YOU'D COME.
VE TWO
MESSAGES
FOR YOU.
SHE SAW IT ALL, WITCHER. AND THAT BRINGS ME
TO THE SECOND MESSAGE. WHICH YOU SHALL
GET RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES.

He...
knocked it
away...
 L SEE YOU'VE MADE YOUR IT COULDN'T BE ONE. STREGOBOR
CHOICE. IS IT THE RIGHT ONE? } LAUGHED ME OFF. HE SAID I COULD
ARE YOU CERTAIN? MURDER ALL BLAVIKEN AND A FEW
VILLAGES MORE, YET HE WOULD
REMAIN IN HIS TOWER.

WN Fh
Py
ay
Pe
i) b ,

YOU WON'T
MAKE THIS
“f ANOTHER
© \ TRIDAM, RENFRI. |4
WON'T LET

NO, GERALT. YOU THAT'S OF NO USE,

MADE YOUR WITCHER. YOUR MAGIC
CHOICE. TRICKS WON’/T WORK
ON ME. YOU’/VE BUT
YOUR SWORD TO
RELY ON.
—

LEAVE,
RENFRI.
WE CLASH
SWORDS,
I WON'T... YOU AND I...
can't... WE ARE WHAT
WE ARE...
a: ‘bb’ Ae meee cee i’
Don't...
 SHRIKE
IS DEAD.
Hard to
believe...

COME, GERALT. FETCH TOUCH HER,

gies sg eae AND YOUR
ER TO THE T : \ HEAD LANDS
A POSTMORTEM WILL : HANDS OFF, NEXT TO
EXPLAIN MUCH. SORCERER. HERS.
 ARE YOU
MAD,
GERALT? AN
AUTOPSY'S THE
ONLY WAY TO
DETERMINE--

posse? VERY WELL/ HAVE IT |!

YOUR WAY! BUT yOU_ |!
WILL NEVER KNOW, fF
UNDERSTAND? YOU
WILL NEVER BE
ir CERTAIN, GERALT!
y DO YOU HEAR
» ME?

I’M PREPARED TO LEAVE Wee tJ THESE FOLK KNOW AND WHEN

THIS PLACE FOR GOOD. . of 2m NOTHING. THEY YOU KILL, IT IS
AND I WOULD DO THE a | HAVE ONLY SEEN 7 BRUTAL, GERALT,
SAME WERE I YOU. /Z% i ~ a YOU KILL. A IT IS ODIOUS.
 “lL PITY YOU,
WITCHER...”

ENOUGH!
THAT'S ENOUGH
_ = ~.

FROM YOUSE/ “,.-YOU COULDN’T

MAKE A CHOICE.”

IS THIS WHAT
YER LESSER aad
EVIL LOOKS LIKE, Ld ;
WITCHER? IS wv yfJ
THIS WHAT YE ore
CHOSE? whe 2 a%
DONE
WHAT WAS
NECESSARY,
‘AVE YOU?

“YOU WERE
UNABLE, YET
YOU DID.”
 IF
THAT’S
THE CASE,
YE’RE TO
LEAVE
NOW.
AND DON
EVER COME

Nie
i :\
oom
7: we - -

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IN
\\V8
We
ABh\

\
vI\\

“YOU WILL NEVER KNOW, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND...? “NEVER.”

NEVER BE CERTAIN.

Che £nd.
CHARACTER SKETCHES OF GERALT
BY ADAM GORHAM
 CHARACTER
BY ADAM

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CHARACTER SKETCHES OF STREGOBOR
BY ADAM GORHAM
 ‘
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5 “EDITOR |
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“ASSOCIATE EDITOR’_ ’

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Ebook ISBN 978- 1-50672-722- 6 IHardcover ISBN 978-1- 50672- 696-0 “
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THE WITCHER: THE LES SER EVIL

The Witclier© 2023 cD Projekt _ A, All rights reserved. CD PROJEKT®, The Witcher® are registerre Care of CD PROJEKT Capital
~ Group. The Witcher game © CD PROJEKT S:A. Developed by CD PROJEKT S.A. All rights reserved. The Witcher game is bised on the prose of..
- Andr ze},Sapkowski. All other copyrights and tr ademarks are the proper tyof their respective owners. Dark Horse Books® and the Dark Horse logo are
register ed trademarks ofDark Horse Comics LEC. , register edin various categories and countr
« ies. All rights reserved. Dark Horse is part ‘of Embracer.
Group. No portion of this publication may kbesrepr oduced or transmitted, in
i any form or by any means, without the:express written per mission of Dark |
‘
_ Hor:"Se Comics LLC. Names; characters , places, and incidents featured in this publication either are the pr oduct of the author’ s imagination or are used ,

fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual peesons (living or eeaa),)events, institutions, or locales, without satiric intent, is coincidental.
‘

ma Library:ofCong: ress Caniegiae in-Publication Data

‘ . Names: Rembié, Jacek, eee |Gorham, Adam, artist. | Detsecke, _ “g

| - . Patricio, colorist. | Otsmane--Elhaou PEléssau, letterer. | Carpenter, | . - | -
. ‘ - 5 ; Kai, artist. FSapkowski, Andrzej, creator. | Sapkowski,ae oe as i 5

| = .* | me : a ay, Wiedémin. * ~ : . _ | . -
i as oe Title The Witcher the ae evil/ writer, Jacek Rewbie: ; artist, Adee So 7
; : a i | Gorham ; colors, Patricio Le aera letters, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou ; a P
| ; J. coverart, en Carpenter. . _ a

oe ne Other titles: At head of title: Andrzej Sapkowski’s a . et :

- Pra _ + in = aa Description: Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2023. . ~ oe es: — ae :: fico .

Rages Sic = + Identifiers: LCCN 2022054733 (print)

| LCCN 2022054734 (ebook) | ISBN ie be
er ne 9781506726960 (hardcover) |ISBN 9781506727226 (ebook) a ne
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ee ca on ‘Subjects: LCGFT: Fantasy comics. |‘Graphic novels. a i: - : a 4 = ~

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; eS ers ne es “Classification: ‘LCC PN6728 .W5887 R56 2023 (print) |Lec PN6728. Ws887 —s a
ae ee oe i (ebook) |DDC 741.5/973--de23/eng/20221117 a ee.
_ area as cis record available at https:://Iccn. loc.gov/2022054733 ee ee : a a wee
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a ; A tale of passion, vindication, and the root of eviliis presented iin this eer ee:
graphic novel adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski” S original short story. |ao - 7

| _' Confined in his tower, a local sorcerer requests Geralt’s help iin |: as eee
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